Mental Health

Comments (0)

Transcript of Mental Health

"A State of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"Mental HealthWhat's in Your Student's Backpack?A State of Well BeingWorld Health OrganizationWhen you think of "Mental Illness" what comes to mind?Presentation AgendaWhat are some of the barriers that prevent people suffering from mental Health from getting the help and support they need?What we know about Mental Illness:-an estimated 1 in 5 children/youth in Canada experience mental health issues requiring intervention (Health Canada, 2005)

-many children struggle with mental health issuses that interfere with their day to day functioning

-mental health issues impede social and emotional development

-early intervention and treatment makes a world of difference

-Metal Health affects students academic performance

-most youth do not receive the mental health treatment they need

-70% of adults with mental health issues reported problemsstarted before 18 years of age and 50% before 14 years ofage (Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and YouthMental Health, 2010).

-having positive relationship with a caring/empathic adult can make all the differenceMental health literacy describes people’s perceptions towards mental illness, understanding and ability to recognize specific disorders, and attitudes and knowledge towards help-seeking and interventions.(Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, 2007, 2008)Mental Health and LDsHaving LDs complicates the mental health picture and creates more challenges for supporting students in classroom settings. Effective training in understanding the implications of mental health for children/youth with LDs is essentialWhy Do you think student's with LDs are at a higher risk for mental health issues or disorders?*Educators are well positioned to identify concerns and to promote mental health prevention strategies (Wei & Kutcher, 2011)

*Canadian youth spend more time in school than anywhere else outside the home (Wei & Kutcher, 2011)

*Recent policies on inclusion mean that students with diverse needs are in every classroom

*Anxiety Disorders*Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)*Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)*Behaviour Disorders (including Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD))*Mood Disorders (including Depression, Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression)) *Eating Disorders*Schizophrenia*Substance Abuse*Tourette Syndrome*Self-Injury/Self-Harm*SuicideSome of the more common mental health disorders affecting children and youth1. Myths and facts about mental Illness2. What is Mental Illness3. Risk Factors4. Types of Mental Illness5. Recognizing signs and symptoms 6. Treatments7.What is being done?8. What can teachers do?9. How do we remove barriers and stigmas to ensure more children get the help and support they require?Children's mental health = healthy social and emotional developmentLearning ObjectivesTo increase knowledge and understanding of child and youth Mental Illness

To recognize the signs and sypmtoms of those students who might be at risk

Ways that we as teachers can help remove the stigma of Mental Illness to help break down barriers so that more children and youth can get the support and treatment they needWhat is Mental Illness?In general, mental illness refers to clinically significant patterns of behavioural or emotional functioning that are associated with some level of distress, suffering (pain, death), or impairment in one or more areas of functioning (such as school, work, or social and family interactions). The basis of this impairment is a behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunction, or a combination of these.Types of Anxiety*Separation Anxiety Disorder*Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)*Social Phobia*Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)*Panic Disorder*Post Tramatic Stress Disorder*Selective MutismSigns and SymptomsIntroduced in 2011Ontario's Mental Health and Addictions Strategy: Open Minds, Healthy Minds is the comprehensive, 10 year strategy designed to address mental health and addictions needs in Ontario

"....to reduce the burden of mental illness and addictions by ensuring that all Ontarians have timely access to an integrated system of excellent, coordinated and efficient promotion, prevention, early intervention, community support and treatment programs."

*To enhance the k to 12 Curriculum to more strongly feature student mental health*To develop an Educators Guide (Supporting Minds) to help educators to recognize and support students with mental health and addictions needs*To hire Mental Health Leaders to support board mental health and addictions strategy development and implementation*To provide implementation support via School Mental Health ASSIST How do you distinguish between 'normal' problems that all children and adolescents experience from time to time, and behaviour that may be indicative of a mental heath disorder?The goal is to improve the capacity of professionals to identify and respond early to indicators of mental health difficulties in children and youth.Where do we go from here?In Response to Mental Health and Addictions Strategy the Peel District School board as well as other boards in Ontario are putting initiatives in place to raise awareness, so we as educators are better able to support Student Mental Health and Well BeingIndividual factors *Temperament *Genetics *Learning ability *Social skillsFamily factors *Attachment *Parenting style *Communication *Parental and sibling relations *Family structure and circumstancesEnvironmental factors *Social conditions *School *Community *Sense of belongingDeterminants of Mental Health

Just as with adults, mental disorders can affect kids and teens from all family types and cultural backgrounds. Kids and teens in certain circumstances though, can be at higher risk for mental disorders and may also face additional barriers to getting help. Some of these situations include:Who does it affect?*Young people with a family history of mental illness*New immigrants and refugees*Aboriginal children and youth*Young people who’ve gone through a major life change such as moving to a new city or new school*Young people who have experienced or witnessed trauma, such as abuse, a car accident, a natural disaster, etc.*Gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered youth*Young people with substance use problems*getting significantly lower marks in school*avoiding friends and family*having frequent outbursts of anger and rage*losing his or her appetite*having difficulty sleeping*rebelling against authority*drinking a lot and/or using drugs*not doing the things he or she used to enjoy*damaging other people's property*worrying constantly*experiencing frequent mood swings*not concerned with his or her appearance*obsessed with his or her weight*lacking energy or motivation*hitting or bullying other children*attempting to injure him or her selfIndentifying the Signs■*intense■*persist over long periods of time;■*inappropriate for the child's age■*interfere with the child's life.Characteristics and behaviours may be signs of an underlying mental health disorder if they are:Children and youth with the most serious mental health disorders (e.g., severe psychosis or schizophrenia) may exhibit:*distorted thinking*excessive anxiety*odd body movements*abnormal mood swings*acting overly suspicious of others*seeing or hearing things that others don’t see or hearThe Good News:A majority of childhood Mental Disorders can be treated successfully with early intervention.

People with Mental Illness can learn to live and manage their illness like others manage other diseases.

They key is intervention and treatmentType of treatment depends on the severity and the needs of a child*Counseling1.Cognitive Behaviour Therapy2.Family Therapy3.Interpersonal Therapy4.Educational Interventions*Medications*Hospitalization and residential treatment programsWhat thoughts, feelings or images do you have?Students at Greater RiskMinistry of Education Commitments:Ministry of Health in OntarioThe First Three YearsTargeted towards Children and Youth*Fast access to high quality services*Early identification and support*Help for vulnerable children/youth with unique needsWhy do Teachers play such a key role in Student's Mental Health and Well being?The daily actions of effective teachers and their positive relationships with their students actively promote Mental Health and Well BeingWhy is the role of a Teacher so important?